I purchased this lens and being new to macro photography I'm confused on how to set the lens to 1:1. Been reading articles and they say to set the lens to this setting but I don't see how to do it with this lens. If I am focused at a certain distance from the subject, does that mean that I am taking the picture at 1:1? If so, what would that distance be? I purchased this lens and being new to macro photography I'm confused on how to set the lens to 1:1. Been reading articles and they say to set the lens to this setting but I don't see how... » Read More I purchased this lens and being new to macro photography I'm confused on how to set the lens to 1:1. Been reading articles and they say to set the lens to this setting but I don't see how to do it with this lens. If I am focused at a certain distance from the subject, does that mean that I am taking the picture at 1:1? If so, what would that distance be? « Show Less
14464
Macro lenses can be used for standard photography. If you use one to take a distant object, that object is not a 1:1 size with your captured image. Macro capability means that you can move the lends in close enough so that the captured image is the same size as the object being photographed. Non-macro lenses do not allow you to get in that close and still be able to focus on the object.
14465
The minimum focus distance is 0.15m. At that distance the magnification should be at least 1:1.
14466
There is no setting on the lens or camera to make it 1:1. At the closest distance, I think the magnification is even larger than 1:1. If you really want 1:1 magnification, you can figure it out by taking a photo of a tape measure and compare with the picture on the sensor (scaled to the LCD monitor). If you want, you can take a look at my Facebook page: peter mioduszewski....The sensor of mft is 18 mm x 13.5 mm, if you take the picture of a 10 mm object (tape measure), it has to be 10 mm on the sensor. That is 1:1 in the strict sense. If you want 1:1, the object can not be bigger than the sensor. There is no setting on the lens or camera to make it 1:1. At the closest distance, I think the magnification is even larger than 1:1. If you really want 1:1 magnification, you can figure it out by taking a photo of a tape measure and compare with the picture on the sensor (scaled to the LCD monitor). If you want, you can take a look at my Facebook page: peter mioduszewski....The sensor of mft is 18 mm x 13.5 mm, if you take the picture of a 10 mm object (tape measure), it has to be 10 mm on the sensor. That is 1:1 in the strict sense. If you want 1:1, the object can not be bigger than the... » Read More There is no setting on the lens or camera to make it 1:1. At the closest distance, I think the magnification is even larger than 1:1. If you really want 1:1 magnification, you can figure it out by taking a photo of a tape measure and compare with the picture on the sensor (scaled to the LCD monitor). If you want, you can take a look at my Facebook page: peter mioduszewski....The sensor of mft is 18 mm x 13.5 mm, if you take the picture of a 10 mm object (tape measure), it has to be 10 mm on the sensor. That is 1:1 in the strict sense. If you want 1:1, the object can not be bigger than the sensor. « Show Less
14467
There is a sliding button on the barrel of the lens that switches the lens from normal to macro. Switched to Full allows the lens to do macro photography or 1:1 which means macro. The focal length at this setting is 6 inches to 1.6 ft. I normally do not change the switch from Full as this is an excellent lens and produces the best fine art images at that setting. Go to the following website for more help. http://panasonic.net/avc/lumix/systemcamera/gms/lens/dg_macro_45.htmlHope this was a help.
14468
The specs for this lens are at: http://www.four-thirds.org/en/microft/macro.html
995592
What size of the reversing ring did you buy? If you bought the ring with 58mm threads, that won't work with the 50mm 1.8 lens because that lens has a 52mm filter size. The macro adapter screws onto the "normal" end of the lens where you would usually attach a UV or polarizing filter. Then you flip the entire lens around backward and attach it to your camera body so the lens is mounted to the camera with the side that usually faces the camera now facing the object you want to photograph. But you have to buy the reversing ring that has 52mm threads for that lens.
2101036
This should work for you without a macro lens.In macro mode I was able to take a picture 1 inch from the subject. At 1 inch you begin to shadow the subject, I would suggest stay at least 2 inches away and use a little zoom or with 12.1 Megapixels you can afford to zoom and crop on the PC.
904050
I use the macro with a single focus point. I found if I use multifocus the object will sometimes focus on the wrong area. It works great with insects small vegetation with water drops etc.
1126947
I have this lens and like the wide-angle nice pictures it gives, but it does not have auto-focusing, you should focus manually. and I never heard about calibration (at least I never performed it) - just switched to M (manual) focusing when using this lens.
1915106
Correct; you unscrew the smaller lens to access the macro lens. These lenses are garbage, but to get the desired effect you have to be right on top of the subject you want the picture of.
1770836
I have not taken any macro photos with this lens. For me, it is basically a zoom telephoto lens and will not focus well on close-up items. When I have attempted to use it for close-ups, it continues to cycle and will not focus properly. As a telephoto zoom, it is great for sports photos and brings in long distance subjects clearly. I am sure there are other lenses that are better designed for macro use. John Craighill
892919
I love using this lens for Macro. In fact that is what I end up doing with it about most of the time as I rarely use it as the wide angle lens. After using it way more I found the the edges are always blurry with the wide angel lens. You can crop off the blurry parts. So just be sure to not center peopl/items all way to edge. As for macro pics. Love it to do so! Only downfall it has a narrow depth of field. But for the price can't beat it. I do have a set of 4 lens I like better. But this lens is not bad, and I do still use it want medium magnification. I say medium because when you extend the lens all the way out with this lens say on a kit lens to .55 you get some vignetting. Works best on mid range on lens. But for the money well worth it. Becuase if you are like me macro lens are out of the league at the time. Magnification is .45. Hope this helps. Let me know if I can help with anything else.
2075463
It works good at a macro but because it is a zoom with AF, it can be difficult to use it as a 'true' macro lens. I prefer to use this for wildlife and landscapes but I have used it for macro. Use the MF if going to use for macro. I hope this makes sense.
1588420
To J.D. who asked: "why not just buy the 2x since they are the same price?"There is at least two reasons: 1). 2x will degrade the sharpness significantly more then the 1.4x. So if 1.4 is enough, then it is better. 2). It will make the minimum appeature go down by 2 stops. So if you start with a 180mm F3.5 macro, you will end up with 360mm, F7.1. Many cameras can not focus beyond F5.6, so only manual focus at that point. It also becomes a much "darker" lens. Where as the 1.4x will only bring it down by 1 stop to about 260mm, F5.0.Good luck.
2228567
Thanks Branden, I didn't think it was a "macro" lens, but wanted to ask. I'm planning on buying this lens when ever I decide I can afford a $1,000 lens. I've since purchased the Canon 60mm EF-S Macro lens and like it very much.
379182
You haven't given any information about the procedures you are using so I'm having to do some guessing here. First, have you set the camera to Macro? If so, What distance range are you working in? If you are too far away or too close, you will be out of the filters' working range. If you have the settings right and are in range and still can't get the auto focus to work, make sure that the filter(s) are screwed in all the way and on straight. If it still will not auto focus, you will have to switch to manual focus and perhaps moved the camera a little bit closer or farther away from the subject until the subject is in focus. You haven't given any information about the procedures you are using so I'm having to do some guessing here. First, have you set the camera to Macro? If so, What distance range are you working in? If you are too far away or too close, you will be out of the filters' working range. If you have the settings right and are in range and still can't get the auto focus to work, make sure that the filter(s) are screwed in all the way and on straight. If it still will not auto focus, you will have to switch to manual focus and perhaps moved the camera a little bit closer or farther away from the... » Read More You haven't given any information about the procedures you are using so I'm having to do some guessing here. First, have you set the camera to Macro? If so, What distance range are you working in? If you are too far away or too close, you will be out of the filters' working range. If you have the settings right and are in range and still can't get the auto focus to work, make sure that the filter(s) are screwed in all the way and on straight. If it still will not auto focus, you will have to switch to manual focus and perhaps moved the camera a little bit closer or farther away from the subject until the subject is in focus. « Show Less
916596
I attached my macro lens to my Nikon kit 18-55mm lens. Just be sure to remove any filters you have on the lens first, otherwise the macro won't be able to attach. I think this is why the lenses are so cheap. You're getting the heavy duty lens functions (like autofocus, etc) from your primary lens, then the macro is just a fun add-on. If you only want a macro without having to attach it to another lens, you have to pay a lot more. I'm sure you also get more quality out of it, but given the price of this lens, you can still get some amazing pictures out of it.
19871
Hi Michael, for some reason I've returned this item...Not because of having any trouble! I've decided to but real macro lens instead of using something like that just because of quality of the image with the Nikon macro lenses. Sorry
699728
Manual Focus only. Works better close for Macro shots. Not so much for far away, Infinity setting. Good Luck!
386985
I get that same problem (I also have a D7000). However, on mine that is only for close-up macro-type images (when I snap the photo, the focus seems to be farther than where I focused - I lost out on some neat bug photos because of it, and did a lot of testing compared to other lenses). It does OK at distance. My adjustment is less than that (I don't remember it), but I don't use it much for close-ups. I use it mostly for wide shots and landscape work, and also inside museums. In a perfect world, I would buy the 24-70mm f/2.8 Nikon, but this is a third of the price, and for my application is fine. However, if you are shooting people at closer ranges, I can see where it might be an issue. That far off, and it might be worth talking to Sigma about it. They might be able to either fix it or replace it.
2155739
There is a sliding button on the barrel of the lens that switches the lens from normal to macro. Switched to Full allows the lens to do macro photography or 1:1 which means macro. The focal length at this setting is 6 inches to 1.6 ft. I normally do not change the switch from Full as this is an excellent lens and produces the best fine art images at that setting. Go to the following website for more help. http://panasonic.net/avc/lumix/systemcamera/gms/lens/dg_macro_45.html Hope this was a help.